Vacuum water-elevator



(No Mode'Lj A 3 sheet-shefet 1.

P. vSAFT'I'ELKAIIl VACUUM WATER ELEVATOR.

N0. 507,334y Patented Oct. 24, 1893.

(No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 2.

P. SATTELKAU. VACUUM WATER ELBVATOR.

No. 507,334. Patented 003. 24, 1393.

L F :.d:

w, I fmwm (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. SATTELKAU. VACUUM WATER EL'EVATOR. No. 507,334. Patented 001;. 24,1393.

` IINrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL SATTELKAU, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VACU U M WATER-ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,384, dated October 24, 1893. Application iiledMay 10, 1893. l Serial No. 473,651. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL SATTELKAU, a citizen of the United States, residingin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Vacuum Water-Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to water elevators in which steam is used to force water out of the tank, the steam being afterward condensed, forming a partial Vacuum in the tank which will ll again with water by suction.

The object of my invention is to provide an air seal in the stand pipe structure so that the breaking of the vacuum by air is avoided, as fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1, is a View of my improved air seal. Fig. 2, is a view in elevation of a vacuum water elevator illustrating my invention. Figs. 3 and 4, are views illustrating different applications of the invention. Figs. 5 and 6, are modifications of the air seal; and Figs. 7 and S, are views showing further modications. Fig. 9, is an enlarged view, partly in section, illustrating the tank and its Valves.

I will describe my invention in connection with a water elevator for railroad purposes, for feeding the tender tanks of locomotives, but it will be understood that my invention can be used in connection with any water elevator using the vacuum system.

A is the tank of the Water elevator.

B is the inlet pipe from the source of supply, having an inlet valve b. v

O is the outlet pipe connected to the goose neck C', which overhangs the track in the present instance. The pipe C has a check valve c to prevent the admission of air into the tank through said pipe.

D is the reservoir for holding a sufficient supply of water to condense the steam in the tank. This reservoir D receives its supply of water from the main tank A through the pipe a and the pipes d and d. These pipes cZ'and d extend down to a point below the suction limit of the tank, and as shown in Fig. 1, the pipe d is arranged within the pipe d', and terminates at a point above 'the end of said pipe so as to allow the water to flow from one pipe to the other, and vet allow sufficient space for the accumulation of mud.

I preferably arrange in the pipe a, a valve d for controlling the supply of VWater to the reservoir D; a water filter cand a check Valve 5 5 a3, the check valve preventing the Water loW- ing from the stand pipe into the pipe ct. Connected to the pipe (L is an outlet pipe e attached to the sprayer E, situated in the upper portion lof the tank, and this pipe has a check 6o valve e to prevent back pressure, and the How of steam through the pipe.

F is a steam pipe connected to the sprayer E, Which has steam passages independent of the water passages. This steam pipe is connected to the steam pipe of the locomotive or other source of steam supply, and has a suitable regulating valve to regulate the flow of steam through the pipe. The pipe is also provided with an air check Valve f to prevent air 7o entering the tank when steam is cut olf.

In the upper end of the reservoir is an air vent d2 to allow the water to readily iow into or out of the reservoir. Attached to the end of the pipe d is a point d3 arranged so that 75 the pipe can be driven into the ground when required.

In Fig. 3, I haveshown an arrangement of parts which enable me to utilize the discharge pipe from the tank as the reservoir for the 8o spray water; the air seal pipe extends from a point above the valve cto a point beyond the suction limit of the tank and then to the spraying device at the top of the tank. A tube m is used to connect the upper portion of the S5 outlet pipe with the base of the tank, or the lower portion of the pipe so that the steam will not force all the water out ofl the pipe, but leave an amount therein sufficient to form a spray. 9o

In FigA, I have shown the reservoir D in the upper portion of the tank casing. It will be understood that the reservoir may be placed at any point or in any position, providing it will allow the Iiow of water to the tank at the proper time, to form a spray and condense the steam for the purpose described.

In Fig. 5, I have shown the pipe d coupled to the pipe and in Fig. 6, I have shown the pipes d df combined and looped. This roo arrangement may be used when it is not re quired to drive the pipes into the ground.

The operation is as follows: I would state that the device shown is a railway water tank for supplying the tenders of locomotives with water, and is arranged adjacentto the track and close to a supply of water. The supply pipe B extends down below the natural water line, while the pipes d, d extend considerably below the water lineand beyond the suction limit of the tank, so that in no case could the tank bring the water from the bottom of the pipes d, d and break the water seal. If, for instance, the tank is filled with Water, steam is admitted to the pipe Fand forces the water out of the tank through the outlet pipe C, at the same time forcing Water through the pipe a and pipes d, d into the reservoir D. When the tank is emptied of water, the steam is cut od, and as the steam immediately commences to condense, the Water in the reservoir D returns tothe tank through the. pipes d, d and pipe e, discharging throughthe sprayer E, andthus condenses the steam in the tank forming a partial vacuum, and as this partial vacuum is formed, water flows through the inlet pipe B into the tank filling it to the proper level. The reservoir is arranged in such position in respect to the tank,that the desired pressure is attained.

IniFigs. '7T and 8, I have shown the pipes d, d extcndingupward beyond the suction limit instead of down below the suction limit; the reservoir D may be arranged on the same leveLas the tank, Fig. 7, or elevated as shown in Fig. 8. The construction shown in Figs. 7 and18 may be used When it `is impossiblev to extend the pipesbelow the suction tank.

By the above described apparatus the accurate working of. the tank is insured, asthe water seal in the pipes d, d cannot be broken to admit air into the tank and break the vacuum. It Will be understood that my-improved water elevator can be used not only for thefsupply tanks of railways, but in any instance where a supply'of` water is desired.

Iiclaim as my invention- 1. The combination of a tank, a reservoir, water supply and outlet for the tank, with an air seal communicating with the tank and the reservoir, said air seal being beyond the suction limit of the tank, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the tank, the water inlet and the water outlet therefor, a steam supply pipe entering the tank at the top, a reservoir, pipes forming communication be tween the reservoir and the upper and lower portions of the tank, and extending beyond the suction limit of the tank, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the tank A, the supply pipe B, theoutlet pipe C,.the steam pipe F, pipesa and @,Valves in said pipes,pipes d, d extending below the suction limit of the tank forminga water seal, with a reservoir extending above the base of the tank, and connected with the pipe d, substantially as described.

4; The combinationof the tank, the inlet andoutlet therefolga reservoir, a pipe d connected to said reservoir, a pipe d incasing said pipe d and connected with the reservoir, said pipes d, d extending beyond the suction limit of the tank, substantially as described.

5. 'lhe combination of the tank, inlets and outlets thereforra reservoir, pipes d and d forming the communication betweenthe reservoir and the tank, andextending below the suction lineof the tank, with a point d3 on one of said pipes so that the pipes can be driven into the ground, `substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

PAUL SATTELKAU.

Witnesses:

II. F. REARDON, WILLIAM. A. BARR. 

